Microsoft 'not even halfway through' current console cycle

Following intensifying speculation that Microsoft is planning to release new hardware with Project Natal, the company has stated that the Xbox 360 will still be supported “long into the next decade.”

Responding to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s recent ambiguous comments, Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry Hryb revealed that the company is “not even halfway through the current console generation lifecycle.”

Writing on his semi-official blog, Hryb claimed that the Xbox 360 “will be the entertainment centre in the home for long into the next decade.”

He added that Project Natal will be “an important part of this platform”, but disassociated the intriguing peripheral with Ballmer’s promised “2010” release date.

Hryb did not address speculation that Microsoft may be working on a new Xbox 360 SKU that is to be released in tandem with Project Natal.